Darth Hater

Welcome back to yet another installment of the Darth Hater PvP column, where we’ll collect and update the news that matters to the PvP community. This thread will be updated periodically as necessary throughout the week, so you can refer back to it for new information. If you have any tips on current content that should be featured, or if you think your video or guild should be featured in a future column, send them to me via PM.

This week in the PvP Column, all eyes are on Ilum and the reinvention of open world PvP.  For coverage of the event and your discussions, as well as the Community Spotlight, and more, hit the jump.

News and Discussion

As the new content has officially been out, players are flocking to Ilum to take part in the Gree quests, and the PvP area has been particularly popular.  User CharterMonkKent on the official forums had this to say about it.  Check out the thread and weigh in with your opinion.

Looking for quick commendations?  Technochic on the official forums wanted to point out that the new PvP dailies are a great way to build up some easy comms, depending on your situation.  Have a look, and let them know what you think.

In another suggestion about what to potentially do with Ilum in the future, Maraxuss had this to say on the matter.

NamikazeNaruto on the official forums wants to know if, as a PvPer, this game is worth playing to you.  Head on over to the official thread and have a look, as well as provide your two cents.

Community Spotlight

In this week's Community Spotlight, we're going to feature a few different guilds or individuals that wanted to draw attention to their activities in PvP.

First up, we have Coolaid, who contacted me last week about appearing in the Spotlight.  Having contacted me, he had this to say:

Coolaid

Over the past few months after getting a new computer I've been able to record my PvP matches in full 1080HD, with the game running at completely maxed graphical settings. I've always been a UI minimalist, and ever since 1.2 landed I've perfected my non-obstructive UI, esp the one for pvp. I've also never been a fan of any sort of compilation videos, IMO anyone can show a 10 minute video of random incomplete fights, or the few times they actually managed to pull something off. True PvP skill is consistent and full battles is the best way to learn/improve on your PvP. I realize the problem with this is dead space/non combat sections, so I've edited them all to speed though any of those sections as to save viewer time and for them to still be aware of whats going on. My videos of full games are on average 7-8 min long. These are all pre-50 PvP matches. To explain, first of all pre-50 PvP is the best PvP in the game(flame-shield-on), also I've had a 50 power-tech in War hero Pre-F2P, been in a ranked PvP guild only second to "Hey I'm mvp"'s rated team. I'm sorry to say those games are not very fun to watch as usually everyone has 400-500k damage with 3 kills across the board the entire game. At the rated level, movement/strategies/counters are almost always the same, which makes for very monotonous videos. I believe these combined components Bring a much more enjoyable video. So please sit back and enjoy SWTOR PVP the way it was meant to be watched.

 You can find his YouTube channel here, and it's filled to the brim with videos of various PvP encounters.  I'll embed one here, but go check out his channel and let him know what you think.

I also wanted to highlight this thread, as well as the video in it.  Enjoy!

Op-Ed: This is War

With the advent of Game Update 1.7, we've seen the return of open-world PvP in a new way.  On the war-torn planet of Ilum, players are facing off in the PvP zone of the Western Ice Shelf for the ability to complete quests and gain renown with the Gree Enclave.  As is always the case with these kinds of events, the playerbase seems torn on whether or not this is a good thing.  On one side of the argument, you have those that enjoy the carnage and brutality that come along with such open warfare.  Telling players to stay out of the PvP zone if they don't wish to PvP, some players make no secret about the war they wage on anyone or anything that gets in their way.  On the other side of the argument, you have players who are attempting to complete quests, and are being killed in the process.  So, what's the deal exactly?

Firstly, I'd like to say that with the launch of this event, there are a variety of quests to pretty much suit everyone, in my opinion.  There are quests out in the neutral zone so that players who are largely PvE players can manage to rep-up with the Gree.  The quests taking place in the PvP zone are by no means mandatory, they are simply offered as the opposite side of the coin, and are there for those that wish to engage in PvP with other players.  With a few other ways to gain reputation aside from entering the PvP zone, I think it's a fair argument to say that you shouldn't enter unless you're prepared for a fight.

Now, given what I've just said, there are and always will be instances of griefing and general annoyance within these kinds of zones.  There are those who enjoy preventing others from completing objectives, or simply raining on someone's parade.  Debating "what kind of person" they are is really fruitless in my opinion, as they are acting within the confines of the game and it's rules.  This zone permits you to take a small group with you, but aside from that it's no holds barred.  I honestly support this kind of environment, as I believe that it keeps itself in check.  If the majority of the players present don't like seeing people be jerks, then they will be dealt with accordingly, mob rule having taken effect.  But for the most part, you are warned that you're entering a PvP area and that you will be flagged, so entering the zone under these auspices, and then complaining about being killed via PvP actions is sort of redundant.  Long story short, if you don't wish to engage in PvP, don't go in there.  There are other ways to obtain reputation, and they certainly aren't worth your peace of mind.

So, if you're going to Ilum, group up with others; people you trust.  Stay together and act as a group, and protect one another.  And if you don't prefer the group dynamic, or don't prefer fighting other players, then I think this area simply isn't for you.